Favorite WA Campground

[SJH]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]With fuel prices climbing and little relief in sight, many campers I talk to are planning summer excursions closer to home. If you are like me, I have little experience with campgrounds in my own state preferring to return to those same few we enjoy and knowing what to expect.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I would like to get some perceptions of our campgrounds from Heartland Forum members rather than say...rvparkreviews. My intention is that some of you will respond to this thread with a “review” of your favorite Washington campground. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I will start...[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Riverbend RV Park, Twisp, WA[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Riverbend is a smaller park (75 sites) on the banks of the Methow River along Highway 20 between the towns of Winthrop and Twisp. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]We enjoy this park as a nice “get-a-way” destination. It is quiet and slow paced, very small town atmosphere with little hustle & bustle. In the summer months you are pretty much guaranteed warm (sometimes hot), sunny weather. AnaLyn and I delight in tethering our River Rat tubes to a rock in the middle of the river (usually you can walk from shore to shore) and bask in the sun with a cold beverage. On more adventurous days we will go upstream and tube back to the park. We see people fishing from the banks and some in boats. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Most sites have some shade. Full hook-ups. There is WiFi. No cable but a repeater for local TV. The laundromat is very nice as is the bath house and rest rooms. Riverbend has a small store for last minute items, an ice cream or propane refill. There is a mowed field where campers set up badminton, croquet etc. and a covered outdoor picnic area. Deer are plentiful in this area and caution while driving is in order. On one trip we counted 30+ in an eight mile stretch of highway. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Riverbend is slightly closer to Twisp than Winthrop. Twisp has a better grocery store (Hank's) and cheaper fuel. During the summer months, Twisp has an outdoor market which usually moves to Winthrop (The Barn) on Sundays. Winthrop has a lot of tourist type shops that are fun to visit. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For a day trip we will continue south on highway 20 over Loup Loup Pass and back up to Omak. It is a pleasant scenic, if you will, drive of about 45 minutes. Omak is the larger city of the area with the usual array of businesses e.g. Wal Mart etc. There is also a small casino my wife enjoys and we often stop for lunch there. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Riverbend is owned and operated by husband & wife, Ed & Cheryl Ethrington. They are cordial and accommodating and help make the stay very enjoyable. [/FONT]

HERE are some photos of the area and the North Cascades

 

[Duramax1]

Riverbend sounds absolutely delightful. Two individuals in our group love to swim. How is the swimming at Riverbend.

We have also really enjoyed:
Fort Warden
Deception Pass
Lincoln Rock
Wenatchee Confluence
Lake Chelan City Park

 

[SJH]

Riverbend sounds absolutely delightful. Two individuals in our group love to swim. How is the swimming at Riverbend.

We have also really enjoyed:
Fort Warden
Deception Pass
Lincoln Rock
Wenatchee Confluence
Lake Chelan City Park

Swimming in the Methow River during the summer is pretty good in some areas. Along the shores at Riverbend the river is pretty shallow. The bottom is quite rocky. People love to tube this river. We see everything from tire tubes to inflatable recliners going down the river. The river bank has a few sandy areas to set chairs etc. but the majority is rocky. The water temps are OK for these two old people. A 15 minute drive will take you to Pearrygin Lake State Park, a great place for swimming.

Deception Pass is a wonderful park about 45 minutes away but not amenable to our new 38' Big Country. Pretty tight quarters! We haven't stayed at the others you recommend but will certainly attempt to. I know that both Fort Worden and the Chelan City Park are difficult to get into without reservations many months ahead. Since you like the Chelan area, I have heard very good reports about Beebe Bridge park just across the river at Chelan.

Thanks for the info!

Best Wishes!

 

[aatauses]

We workcamped at Wine Country RV park in Prosser. It was great. Large pull through sites, within walking distance of several wine tasting wineries. Heated pool and hot tub, grass sites, not much shade.
We di do a revies on rv reviews
al

 

[SJH]

We workcamped at Wine Country RV park in Prosser. It was great. Large pull through sites, within walking distance of several wine tasting wineries. Heated pool and hot tub, grass sites, not much shade.
We di do a revies on rv reviews
al

Wow! "Who-da-thunk" Prosser? Wine Country RV Park looks like a great destination. We haven't done much traveling in that part of the state. Lived in WA all my life and never would have given it a thought to visit Prosser. The Balloon Rally looks particularly interesting! Thanks for the tip!

 

[rebootsemi]

City of Chelan Lakeshore RV park, great place, lots of grass, they have some pull throughs although most are back ins. Spaces not to long but we were fine, our Sundance is 33' and had plenty of room for the truck. Some say that the wifi is only close to the office, we were a few hundred ft and had pretty good signal. Lots of wine in the area, Casino up the road and of course there is Lake Chelan. Take the Lady of the Lake up to Stehekin a great day trip.

 

[Manzan]

Steamboat Rock State Park is one of our favorites. It is on Banks Lake in Eastern Washington. Full hookups, lots of green, some shaded. Easy back in sites. Swimming and fishing. No TV. Deer in the campground in the evenings in the fall. Have not been there in the summer. Near Grand Coulee Dam which puts on quite a light show after dark. And just a tank of gas from Seattle. We like to take our canoe and paddle around with one eye on the weather. It is a very large lake and winds can spring up quite rapidly.

 

[SJH]

City of Chelan Lakeshore RV park, great place, lots of grass, they have some pull throughs although most are back ins. Spaces not to long but we were fine, our Sundance is 33' and had plenty of room for the truck. Some say that the wifi is only close to the office, we were a few hundred ft and had pretty good signal. Lots of wine in the area, Casino up the road and of course there is Lake Chelan. Take the Lady of the Lake up to Stehekin a great day trip.

That's two who have mentioned the Chelan Park I have stayed at Darnell's Resort which is right next door to the park but that was years before we started to RV. That park was always full and very popular! I believe the casino is Mill Bay in Manson.

Thanks!

 

[rebootsemi]

We stayed in Oct and was not real busy. I understand it gets real busy in the summer. It is the only RV park I know of in Chelan.

 

[rebootsemi]

That's two who have mentioned the Chelan Park I have stayed at Darnell's Resort which is right next door to the park but that was years before we started to RV. That park was always full and very popular! I believe the casino is Mill Bay in Manson.

Thanks!

How about the Oregon coast? This place is right on the beach, pricey but real nice. http://www.seaperchrvresort.com/index.php#

We stayed in Oct and was not real busy. I understand it gets real busy in the summer. It is the only RV park I know of in Chelan.

 

[loafer]

Although this is in Oregon its a short hop over the bridge near Astoria but Fort stevens is a great state park lots of biking or walking paths from camp to beach. Deception pass and Fort warden if you can get in also very good. Close to the ocean and lots of walking areas. A small but quiet state park is Bayview although not big rig friendly. Lake Chelan city park also great place to camp, again if you can get in.We are blessed in this corner of the great country we live in .You can go from seaside camping to inland semi desert .or mountain forest camps all within 1 days drive .
This is a great thread for us who live in the Pacific Northwest
Bill

 

[SJH]

Although this is in Oregon its a short hop over the bridge near Astoria but Fort stevens is a great state park lots of biking or walking paths from camp to beach. Deception pass and Fort warden if you can get in also very good. Close to the ocean and lots of walking areas. A small but quiet state park is Bayview although not big rig friendly. Lake Chelan city park also great place to camp, again if you can get in.We are blessed in this corner of the great country we live in .You can go from seaside camping to inland semi desert .or mountain forest camps all within 1 days drive .
This is a great thread for us who live in the Pacific Northwest
Bill

We have spent the majority of our camping adventures on the Oregon coast and explored many different places! You really can't beat the Oregon State parks...they are top notch! From Fort Stevens, to Beverly Beach , Cape Blanco and Nehalem State Park , to name a few, they all have lots to offer. Several good private parks as well.

Bayview is about 30 minutes from us and is one of those parks we used to frequent in our previous rig. You are correct about it not being "big rig" friendly. There is the field area that can be used. Still no sewer hook-ups and the dump station was still down the last time we went by. Nice area though. Currently the Utility campsites are closed for repairs and upgrades. The park is close to the Padilla Bay Shore Trail. Short drive to LaConner, the Northernlights Casino, and much more.

We do live in a very nice part of the country...wish we could just do something about the 24/7 rain!

Thank You for your input!

 

[Gaffer]

We stayed at Seaperch several years ago in a much smaller rig and really enjoyed it. I walked it last year when we were on a day drive from Waldport and I thought they had the new sites situated so that the narrow roadways in this park would make it very hard to get a longer rig into. Anyone stayed here and had no problem parking since the remodel? The park was empty when I visited.

 

[SJH]

Steamboat Rock State Park is one of our favorites. It is on Banks Lake in Eastern Washington. Full hookups, lots of green, some shaded. Easy back in sites. Swimming and fishing. No TV. Deer in the campground in the evenings in the fall. Have not been there in the summer. Near Grand Coulee Dam which puts on quite a light show after dark. And just a tank of gas from Seattle. We like to take our canoe and paddle around with one eye on the weather. It is a very large lake and winds can spring up quite rapidly.

This is another area of WA we haven't explored much!

Steamboat Rock State Park looks like a nice spot. We enjoy the weather in that part of the state. The warmer, the better. We have been by the Coulee Dam but never at night. I hear the laser light show is worth seeing. These "tank full of fuel away" destinations are great!

Thanks!

 

[shovelguy]

We go to Cape Disappointment every February. I love this State cg. It has very nice sized, back in spaces that are not all jammed together. They have full hook ups and are close to the beach. It is usually pretty full when we are there in the winter so I would suggest getting reservations in advance. We don't mind the weather we get in February but I would suggest going in the fall as I think that is the nicest time of the year for the coast in this neck of the woods.

 

[SJH]

I have heard nothing but good things about this park but we have yet to visit it. It seems every WA state park is booked for the months of June, July, & August sometimes a year in advance. Just for fun I checked the Cape Disappointment web site. It is pretty much full until the end of September. starting in June. My job keeps me close to home until the middle of June. A few sites are open week days which will work for us with a little planning. This park is on this years agenda!

Thank You.

 

[Marge]

We love Cape Disappointment too, we still call it Fort Canby.
Oregon coast is our favorite place to camp and we really like Cape Lookout, it is on the coast out from Tillamook.

A favorite place in Washington is Pacific Beach St. Park, it is a few miles north of Copalis. You are sitting right on the beach, just a pile of rocks between you and the waves. Only electrical sites, but they have a dump station in the park. That's our old motor home right in the foreground of the picture.

 

[SJH]

Thanks Marge...the thread is working as I had hoped! I have never heard of Pacific Beach State Park. Here is another link to a private web site about Pacific Beach.

Best Wishes!

 

[Manzan]

Marge, Cape Lookout is a one tank of gas from Seattle and go there often. Took our shake down cruise there in our new North Trail 21FBS. Nice rainy week! Pearrygin Lake State Park in Eastern Washington is sometimes on our way to or from where ever. Very nice setting but have not spent more than one night at a time there. And they get a whole lot less rain!

 

[Crumgater]

SJH - any concerns with pulling the big 5er across the N. Cascades Hwy? Riverbend looks great. We'd be coming from N. Kirkland, so Hwy 20 would be shorter than 2 through Wenatchee... but how many switchbacks are there? (we're still new to pulling a trailer).